Mad Professor

Last updated

Mad Professor
Mad Professor at Reggies.jpg
Mad Professor during a soundcheck at Reggie's Music Place in Chicago
Background information
Birth nameNeil Joseph Stephen Fraser
Born (1955-03-27) 27 March 1955 (age 68)
Georgetown, Guyana
Genres Dub, reggae, jungle
Occupation(s)Record producer, engineer
Years active1979–present
LabelsAriwa
Website ariwa.com

Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser (born 27 March 1955, Georgetown, Guyana) known by his stage-name Mad Professor, is a Guyanese-born British dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. [1] He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music's second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He has collaborated with reggae artists such as Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sly and Robbie, Pato Banton, Jah Shaka and Horace Andy, as well as artists outside the realm of traditional reggae and dub, such as Sade, Massive Attack, The Orb, Gaudi, the Brazilian DJ Marcelinho da Lua, Grace Jones, and Perry Farrell.

Contents

Biography

Fraser became known as Mad Professor as a boy due to his fascination with electronics. He emigrated from Guyana to London at the age of 13 and later began his music career as a service technician. He gradually collected recording and mixing equipment and in 1979 opened his own four-track recording studio, Ariwa Sounds, in the living room of his home in Thornton Heath. [2] He began recording lovers rock bands and vocalists for his own label (including the debut recording by Deborahe Glasgow) and recorded his first album after moving the studio to a new location in Peckham in 1982, equipped with an eight-track setup, later expanding to sixteen. [2] Fraser's Dub Me Crazy series of albums won the support of John Peel, who regularly aired tracks from the albums. [2] Although early releases were not big sellers among reggae buyers, the mid-1980s saw this change with releases from Sandra Cross (Country Life), Johnny Clarke, Peter Culture, Pato Banton, and Macka B (Sign of the Times). [2] Fraser moved again, this time to South Norwood, where he set up what was the largest black-owned studio complex in the UK, where he recorded successful lovers rock tracks by Cross, John McLean, and Kofi, and attracted Jamaican artists including Bob Andy and Faybiene Miranda. [2] He teamed up with Lee "Scratch" Perry for the first time in 1983 for the recording of the album Mystic Warrior (1989). [3]

Fraser's son continues his father's musical tradition, producing dub under the alias, Joe Ariwa.

Recordings

Mad Professor mixing Dub and Cumbia during a workshop in Bogota, Colombia Mad Professor @ Bogota.jpg
Mad Professor mixing Dub and Cumbia during a workshop in Bogotá, Colombia

Mad Professor has released hundreds of original recordings and has worked with a number of reggae and non-reggae artists. He is perhaps best known for his 12 instalments of the Dub Me Crazy series and 5 albums under the Black Liberation Dub banner. The following is a partial discography of his original releases including collaborations with other artists and remixes.

Original recordings

Dub Me Crazy series

Black Liberation series

Dub You Crazy With Love Series

Collaborations

With Lee "Scratch" Perry

  • 1990 – Mystic Warrior
  • 1995 – Black Ark Experryments
  • 1995 – Super Ape Inna Jungle
  • 1996 – Experryments at the Grass Roots of Dub
  • 1996 – Who Put The Voodoo Pon Reggae
  • 1996 – Dub Take the Voodoo Out of Reggae
  • 1998 – Live at Maritime Hall
  • 1998 – Fire in Dub
  • 2000 – Lee Perry Meets Mad Professor
  • 2001 – Techno Dub

With other artists

  • 1981 - Kunte Kinte (with Aquizim)
  • 1982 – Rhythm Collision Dub (with Ruts DC)
  • 1983 – Punky Reggae Party (Positive Style) – Anti Social Workers
  • 1984 – Jah Shaka Meets Mad Professor at Ariwa Sounds
  • 1985 – Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton
  • 1989 – Mad Professor Recaptures Pato Banton
  • 1989 – Mad Professor Meets Puls Der Zeit
  • 1989 – Mad Professor Feat The Man Ezeke Remix an Dub for Sheila Giles
  • 1990 – A Feast of Yellow Dub (with Yellowman)
  • 1995 – No Protection (Massive Attack v Mad Professor)
  • 1996 – New Decade of Dub (with Jah Shaka)
  • 2000 – The Inspirational Sounds of Mad Professor
  • 2000 – Marseille London Experience (with Massilia Sound System)
  • 2003 – Psychobelly Dance Music (with Baba Zula)
  • 2004 – Dub Revolutionaries (with Sly and Robbie)
  • 2004 – From The Roots (with Horace Andy)
  • 2004 – In A Dubwise Style (with Marcelinho da Lua)
  • 2005 – Moroccan Sunrise (with Borrah)
  • 2005 – Dancehall Dubs (with Crazy Caribs)
  • 2009 – Revolution Feat. Pato Banton And Mr. Professor (With Tugg)
  • 2009 – Nairobi Meets Mad Professor – Wu Wei
  • 2010 – Izrael Meets Mad Professor and Joe Ariwa
  • 2010 – Frente Cumbiero Meets Mad Professor
  • 2010 – Rewired in Dub (with Pama International)
  • 2011 - Rewired in Dub (with Horace Andy)
  • 2012 – The Roots of Dubstep
  • 2013 – Cedric Congo Meets Mad Professor
  • 2014 - Method to the Madness (various Ariwa artists)
  • 2017 - In The Midst Of The Storm (Mad Professor Meets Jah9) [4]
  • 2019 - Massive Attack vs Mad Professor Part II (Mezzanine Remix Tapes ’98)
  • 2019 – Mad Professor meets Gaudi

Remixes

Since the 1990s he has remixed tracks by Sade, The Orb, The KLF, Beastie Boys, Jamiroquai, Rancid, Depeche Mode, Perry Farrell and Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki. His best-known project, perhaps, is 1995's No Protection , an electronic dub version of Massive Attack's second album, Protection . He has also done a version of I&I for New Zealand reggae band Katchafire, three versions for New Zealand electronic group Salmonella Dub and twelve remixes for Japanese musician Ayumi Hamasaki.

A second remix album with Massive Attack is slated for release in 2018

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee "Scratch" Perry</span> Jamaican reggae producer (1936–2021)

Lee "Scratch" Perry was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development of dub music with his early adoption of remixing and studio effects to create new instrumental or vocal versions of existing reggae tracks. He worked with and produced for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin, The Congos, Max Romeo, Adrian Sherwood, Beastie Boys, Ari Up, The Clash, The Orb, and many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horace Andy</span> Jamaican singer (born 1951)

Horace Andy is a Jamaican roots reggae songwriter and singer, known for his distinctive vocals and hit songs such as "Government Land", as well as "Angel", "Spying Glass", and "Five Man Army" with English trip hop group Massive Attack. He is also famous for a cover version of "Ain't No Sunshine". Andy is often described as one of the most respected and influential singers in Jamaica.

<i>Loveppears</i> 1999 studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki

Loveppears is the second studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released in Japan, Hong Kong and China on November 10, 1999, through Avex Trax and the China Record Corporation, and distributed worldwide on April 10, 2001, by Avex Entertainment Inc. It was entirely written by Hamasaki herself, while the production was handled by Japanese musician Max Matsuura. Musically, Loveppears is a dance album and lyrically focuses on themes of love, frustration of life, loneliness, and individualism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surreal (song)</span> 2000 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Surreal" is a song by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, taken from her third studio album Duty (2000). It was written by Hamasaki and produced by Max Matsuura. The song is a rock with elements of alternative rock. "Surreal" describes Hamasaki's madness and sense of confusion, while the themes of "Surreal" are based on Hamasaki's concept of loneliness, chaos, confusion, and the burden of her responsibilities, aimed mostly toward her public image as a recording artist. It was released as the fourth single from the album on 27 September 2000 by Avex Trax and Avex Taiwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whatever (Ayumi Hamasaki song)</span> 1999 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Whatever" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki for her second studio album, Loveppears (1999). It was written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by Max Matsuura. The track is Hamasaki's sixth single with Matsuura since her debut single in April 1998, "Poker Face". "Whatever" premiered on February 10, 1999 as the lead single from the album. It was re-released on February 28, 2001 as a CD single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Be (song)</span> 1999 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"To Be" is a song by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It served as the third single from Hamasaki's second studio album Loveppears (1999). The track was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Taiwan on May 12, 1999, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. It was Hamasaki's final single to be distributed as a Mini-CD, a format that debuted at the start of her career in April 1998. "To Be" was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, it is a J-Pop that was written in third person perspective, much like the content from the parent album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boys & Girls (Ayumi Hamasaki song)</span> 1999 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Boys & Girls" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, serving as the fourth single for her second studio album, Loveppears (1999). It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Hong Kong on July 14, 1999, and through Avex USA in North America in early 2001, while being re-distributed in 2003. "Boys & Girls" marks Hamasaki's first single to be made available for purchase as a maxi single with additional remixes. The track was written by the singer herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, the song is a dance recording, a genre that heavily influences Loveppears. The single's lyrical content is written in third-person perspective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appears</span> 1999 song by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Appears" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released by Avex Trax on November 10, 1999 as the sixth single from her second studio album Loveppears (1999), which was released on the same day. Alongside this, it has been released in several other territories with different release dates under her Western alias Ayu. It also served as Hamasaki's first limited edition single, limiting physical sales to 300,000 copies. The track was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, "Appears" is a dance song written in third person perspective, and is about the third person watching what appears to be a happy and loving relationship. Upon its release, "Appears" received positive reviews from music critics. Alexey Eremenko, writing for AllMusic, selected the track as the best song from the album and her career. However, an editor from CD Journal criticized the amount of remixes on the CD single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanariya</span> 1999 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Kanariya" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki for her second studio album, Loveppears (1999). It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Hong Kong on December 8, 1999, and through Avex USA in North America in early 2000. The recording also served as Hamasaki's second limited edition single, with limited physical units of 300,000 copies. The track was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Two versions of "Kanariya" were made available for consumption—a radio edit produced by American disc jockey Jonathan Peters, and the album version composed by Yasuhiko Hoshino. Lyrically, the song was written in third person perspective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly High (Ayumi Hamasaki song)</span> 2000 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Fly High" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released by Avex Trax in Japan on February 9, 2000, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. The recording served as Hamasaki's third and final limited edition single from her second studio album, Loveppears (1999), limiting physical units to 300,000 copies. The track was written by the singer herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Two versions of "Fly High" were made available for consumption—a radio edit composed by HΛL, and the album version produced by Dai Nagao. Lyrically, the song was written in third person perspective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vogue (Ayumi Hamasaki song)</span> 2000 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Vogue" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki for her third studio album, Duty (2000). It was written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by Max Matsuura. It premiered on April 26, 2000 as the lead single from the album. Her third consecutive lead single to be produced by Matsuura, the song is part of a trilogy from Duty; the other two singles being "Far Away" and "Seasons".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seasons (Ayumi Hamasaki song)</span> 2000 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Seasons" is a song by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki for her third studio album, Duty (2000). It was written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by Max Matsuura. It premiered on June 7, 2000, as the third single from the album. The song is the final part of a trilogy from Duty; the other two singles being "Vogue" and "Far Away".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endless Sorrow</span> 2001 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Endless Sorrow" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released as her 22nd single on May 16, 2001.

<i>Ayu-mi-x</i> 1999 remix album by Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayu-mi-x is the first remix album by Japanese musician Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on March 17, 1999, to promote A Song for ××. Ayu-mi-x remix album contains 2 discs. Disc 1 is the Remix Club Side which contains dance remixes. Disc 2 is the Acoustic Orchestra Side which contains orchestral remixes and 3 dub mixes.

<i>Cyber Trance Presents Ayu Trance</i>

Cyber Trance Presents Ayu Trance is a remix album by Ayumi Hamasaki that contains remixes in the trance genre. The album was released on September 27, 2001.

Mafia & Fluxy are a British reggae rhythm section and production team, consisting of the brothers Leroy (bass) and David Heywood (drums), whose careers began with London reggae band The Instigators in 1977. They backed Jamaican artists on UK tours, and in 1987 visited Jamaica, building rhythm tracks for producers such as Bunny Lee, King Jammy,Mad Professor, Donovan Germain and Philip "Fatis" Burrell, becoming one of the most in-demand rhythm sections of the ragga age. They started their own label, producing for artists such as Sugar Minott, King Kong, Gregory Isaacs, Johnny Osbourne, Cornell Campbell and General Levy.

"Who..." is a Japanese-language song recorded by singer Ayumi Hamasaki. It served as a standard track to her second studio album Loveppears (1999), and was re-recorded and released as a promotional single by Avex Trax in Japan as part of the promotion towards her fifth greatest hits compilation album A Complete: All Singles on September 10, 2008. The track was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, it is a J-Pop ballad that was written in third-person perspective, like the rest of the content from Loveppears. The lyrics details the encapsulation of Hamasaki, and explaining her message of her own philosophy. During its promotional release in 2008, it reached number 49 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart in Japan, and number 19 on the RIAJ Monthly Ringtones chart. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for digital sales of 250,000 units. To promote the single, it appeared on remix and greatest hits compilation albums conducted by Hamasaki.

Starkey Banton aka Starkey Super is a British reggae deejay known for his "cultural" lyrics, active since the mid-1970s.

Ayu-mi-x 6: Gold and Ayu-mi-x 6: Silver are two remix albums released by Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki on March 26, 2008. This is her sixth entry in the ayu-mi-x remix album series, and her first ayu-mi-x album since 2003's Ayu-mi-x V. Including 2005's My Story Classical, it's her first remix album in roughly four years.

<i>Ayu-mi-x 7</i> 2011 remix album series by Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayu-mi-x 7 is a series of remix albums by Japanese musician Ayumi Hamasaki, served as the seventh installments to the parent release Ayu-mi-x. The albums were originally scheduled to be released on March 30, but it was postponed due to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and were released on April 20. A limited box set contains all versions along with a bonus disc were also released on the same day.

References

  1. Mad Professor Interview – Sound On Sound magazine (UK) Issue: August 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN   0-7535-0242-9, p.13-14
  3. Huey, Steve "Mad Professor Biography", AllMusic, Macrovision Corporation
  4. "Jah9 – Mad Professor Meets Jah9 - In The Midst Of The Storm". Discogs. 8 September 2017.
  5. "Soul Coughing - Sugar Free Jazz". Discogs. 13 December 1995.

Interviews